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Monday, September 2, 2013

Renaissance Woman Whines

It is almost 7:00 pm on Labor Day.

So far today:
* two loads of laundry (sheets), plus folded another
* breakfast & clean up
* lunch & clean up
* supper
* two batches of mini muffins for Baboo lunches (with Baboo "help")
* FIXED THE TOILET (I'm pretty proud of myself. First time replacing the valve. It works, and no leaks).
* teensy tiny nap
* Baboos bathed and in bed early for First Day of School Eve

Still to do:
* supper clean up
* take out trash
* finish sewing blankets for nap mats for first day of preschool tomorrow. Who comes up with these projects, anyway?
* pick up toys/clutter so Angel from Above (housekeeper) can vacuum tomorrow.

and...done enough. Tidying will have to happen in the morning, after Baboos go to school. And Mr E took out the trash (I'm making it sound like he does nothing, but he got home at 9:30 pm from making a hospital visit in the Big City).

So envious of esperanza's day alone! Kathy A is right: you very much need a break, after that summer.

W: Labour Day was a bit frustrating, but particularly the morning. So, Mr. Q and his family decided we should get together quickly for a light breakfast in the morning. Mr. Q says to them, "We'll call when E's up for the day. It's usually sometime after 7."

E got to bed a tiny bit later than usual the night before, but then woke up after 10 of her customary 11 hours of sleep. (She often does this, and has to be put back to sleep.) While I was trying to figure out how to get the kid back to sleep, Mr. Q called his parents and told them we'd be right over!

When we got there, it turned out they had unexpected houseguests (an out-of-town aunt, uncle and 8-year-old cousin). MIL decided that the light breakfast wasn't special enough, and went all out. We didn't eat for another hour and a half after we arrived.

And E. She was exhausted. She got really over-tired, freaked out when her grandma tried to feed her some fruit (partially because her grandma went over-smothery and wouldn't let E eat whole slices of peaches, but instead cut them too small for E to pick up). I had to delay my already-delayed breakfast, trying to put a melting-down baby to sleep in a house full of people who don't understand the concept of Inside Voice.

This threw off all of E's nap schedule, as well as Mr. Q's work schedule (he had a lot of work to do on the day before school started, because his teaching assignment got changed around last week).

This leaded to an exhausted QWP, after a whole day of E making That Whining Sound, having her own meltdown at suppertime, along the lines of "I don't know how I'll ever get my own work done, if E has more days like this."

AW: E and I get to spend the whole day at home today, far away from elaborate plans and loud people. And she is now slowly waking up, after getting her full night's sleep.

Ugh, QWP, Family Things. And double ugh, That Whining Sound. Nothing ruins a day faster around here than (a) not enough sleep for the Baboos; (b) not enough sleep for the Mama; or (c) delayed breakfast. And you had the trifecta. So sorry. And I would share my alone time with you if I could.

Senior cat has become more playful in her senior years! In return, she ought to take a turn mopping the floor.

Kathy a: I love my MIL dearly, but she has become a nervous wreck as a grandmother. She was so laid-back as a mother, and now that she has a grandchild, the whole world is a choking hazard. She fusses over whether E is too hot or too cold, panics whenever the child cries at all, and now she's worried about how we let her gnaw on large pieces of food (because, a few nights ago, E thought she'd be funny and shove everything in her mouth at once, especially because it got a reaction out of Grandma!). I spend a lot of time saying the words, "Just relax and let her figure things out."

Your MIL will probably calm down when E is a bit older. The entire world IS a hazard for little ones! I just vaguely remember how each kid has her own habits and evolving abilities -- and you are extremely familiar and comfortable with E's, but G'ma, not so much.

Junior cat, Spottie, made a daring escape to the back yard last night. Spottie is a 100% indoor cat since leaving the feral life in infancy; he's small, has hip problems, can't jump very high, and has no outdoor skills. He went to the back fence by the open space -- the open space where WILD ANIMALS roam around -- but then he got spooked and made another daring dash past the DOGS to get back to the housecat life. The End.

Oh, that's just what I call them! They're the ubiquitous rice-based, easily-dissolving "cookie" made for little babies. I bought the banana-flavoured ones recently, so that I could bribe the baby into being quiet for a few minutes while I'm driving, or during church, or during those last minutes before her father gets home. (Or when she's annoying me.)

W: Swimming with Baboos all summer. I have never been a great swimmer, but I felt like I had made some significant improvements this summer. Went by myself this morning. My legs AND arms were jello by the time I was done. Quivery jello. Hmm. I will not describe the gasping of my breaths, as that is just embarrassing.

AW: Swimming! By myself! And the grocery store! By myself! (Sorry, QWP, I don't mean to rub it in, just celebrating with myself over here)

W? AW? Apparently the Universe heard about my toilet fixing skills, because now the half bath toilet is doing the very same thing. Only its guts look different than the ones I fixed. Hm. Off to the hardware store AGAIN.

So, after 3+ months at the locked memory unit, my SIL has finally started settling in. I think part of it is that they got her medications straight, finally. My husband got the permanent order of conservatorship last week -- everybody agreed that she needs someone to tend to her affairs.

Remember SIL's ex? The one she thought she would re-marry? He finally got a clue, and since her last hospitalization he stopped ramping up her expectations -- stopped seeing her and taking her constant calls, stopped promising her the impossible on the mistaken theory she would "forget" the promise. She still talked about him every day, pacing around saying he was coming at 3:00, calling us repeatedly, but that has stopped the last few weeks. yay.

There were so many calls about bad things in the early weeks. I was afraid at one point that they would kick her out, which would have been a disaster. She is still pretty delusional -- for example, she is comparing prices on cars because she wants to buy one (she has no money and isn't allowed to drive) -- but so much calmer. Knock wood.

I'm really very grateful for y'all letting me vent and giving me strength during the travails earlier this year. xoxoxo

W: I made a lovely healthy lunch for today with cut up veggies and a bit of cheese with rice crackers. About an hour ago I brought my lunch from the kitchen to my desk, put on some music, and sat down to enjoy my little lunch.

Then my elbow caught the edge of the open container holding said lunch and yes - it landed upside down on my office floor, which is a carpet badly in need of a cleaning.

Kathy a, that is such good news that things are settling down for SIL.

W: Another case of New Mom-itis. E has acted weirdly for the past couple of days (about three times), and I'm trying not to freak myself out. All three times (twice during or just after a meal, and once just before her morning nap -- actually, it's all been just before a nap) she has suddenly stopped chattering, her eyes have glazed over, and she's made quiet grunting sounds in the back of her throat while she stares off into middle distance. Also, she's seemed like she's trembling, just the tiniest bit. Then, I pick her up, she snuggles into my arms, and falls asleep.

Is she just so tired that she straight-up crashes? I keep being fearful that she's having a weird reaction to oats (which I just introduced this week). She wakes up from her naps and is her normal, busy self.

Avoiding googling symptoms. My keeping-myself-sane theory: crazy growth spurt. For these past couple of days, she has also been eating as much as I do for breakfast, and can't seem to get enough sleep. And she's been waking multiple times a night, wanting to be fed.

Is it possible that she's been so busy and active that, when she crashes, she just gives out and CRASHES? Am I over-thinking the fact that my baby is napping well today?

The five year old crashed, mid-conversation, in the car the other day. Growing definitely takes extra energy. And if she's waking up lots during the night, it makes sense she's sleepier during the day. Even so, I'd keep an eye on it, and if it lasts over a week or so, call (eek) Overcautious Pediatrician :)

Sue for old skool. It was a good lunch, a joyful lunch, and alas, it left without the chance to accomplish its mission. ~sniff~

QWP -- yeah, I remember the crashes, too. Between the growing and being more active, they can hit a wall and zzzzzzzz. Cutest darned thing!

Thanks, friends, for the thoughts about SIL. I'm sure we'll have more adventures, but I was almost giddy at yesterday's call from the facility -- they want us to leave a little spending money at the office for the snack bar and misc. "She got ahold of a Mary Kay catalog," the social worker said sadly, "and she won't stop talking about 'her order.'" Anyhoo, a modest sum is fine, and I figure this will give staff a bit more to work with.

AW: My SIL asked College Niece for an update. The whole family got a TWO PAGE description of friends, classes, excursions, etc. She has gone far, far away from home for school, so it was great to hear how happy she is and how well she is adjusting. Two pages! From the texting generation!

AW: E had a PERFECT day with her naps. She was so good today. (And yeah, her weirdness seems to have been some kind of sleepiness thing. I think she may have actually fallen asleep with her eyes open? Her aunt does that.) But...

W: Bedtime. Oh my goodness. We went to a bbq at Mr. Q's school (and she was lovely and perfect at that), and then had to leave Mr. Q behind for Meet the Teacher Night. When bathtime came around, she looked at my sister and me, and realised that it wasn't Daddy giving her her bath like normal! And started freaking out. And then was NOT happy that I was putting her to bed. An hour of screaming.

AW: She's asleep now, and Mr. Q is home, and can deal with her if she wakes up.

WOOT, Neighbor Lady!!! We knew it!! It will be easier in a month or two; and next year, you'll be seasoned AND not have to start everything totally from scratch. Those kids are so lucky to have such a great teacher!

Hooray for good students, NL! The first year is always the busiest, and then it slowly lightens up (with occasional spikes whenever you take on a new course, or the curriculum gets overhauled). Mr. Q's in his eighth year and it's really nice now.

W: E had an awful day today. Only napped about an hour, and got increasingly fussy through the day, as the overtired caught up with her.

AW: It is finally quiet in the apartment. And it's the weekend.

Bonus AW, keeping with esperanza's theme: I fixed my own toilet! We thought we were going to have to call the property manager, but I decided to take a crack at it, and was successful!

Mini's cold may be something else. From slight sniffles this morning to 102 temp at bedtime. She usually doesn't run fever with a cold, at least until the ear infection sets in. Hm. We will have to skip a birthday party tomorrow which is, ironically, at the pediatrician's house. (That's irony, right? I always am afraid I've misunderstood the concept).

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